Device for polishing workpiece surfaces

Abstract

A device for polishing metallic workpiece surfaces. The device includes a tool holder which can be exchangeably fitted into a rotationally driven working spindle of a program-controlled milling machine, and a polishing tool, which is fastened in the tool holder. The device also includes a tool shank and a polishing head at the free end thereof, and is coupled to a polishing agent supply which arrives at the effective surface of the polishing head. The tool shank contains a chamber, which can admit a pressure medium and is at least partially filled with the polishing agent, wherein this chamber is in connection with the polishing head by way of a channel and wherein the polishing head has polishing agent permeable material or it contains passages for the polishing agent that is forced out of the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for polishing workpiece surfaces, the apparatus being removably mountable in a tool holder of a program-controlled machine tool having a work spindle to which the tool holder is connected, the machine tool having a source of pressure at the tool holder, the apparatus comprising:
 a polishing tool engageable with the tool holder, said polishing tool being elongated and having an axis and formed with a shank having a proximal end configured to removeably engage the tool holder and ending in a distal end to which distal end a polishing head is fixedly mounted, the polishing head being formed with defined passages through which polishing agent can flow out the polishing head; 
 a chamber in said tool shank having a proximal end connectable to the source of pressure when said polishing tool is mounted to the tool holder, said chamber having a bore through which polishing agent can flow from a distal end of said chamber toward said polishing head; 
 an exchangeable cartridge removably arranged in the chamber; and 
 a displaceable piston in said chamber, said piston being located between the distal end of said chamber and the source of pressure connected to the proximal end of said polishing tool, the polishing agent, when present in said chamber, being between said piston and said bore in the distal end of said chamber, pressure from the machine tool being selectively applied to said piston to controllably move said piston axially toward said polishing head to force the polishing agent out of said chamber toward said polishing head. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing tool is configured to be transferred from a machine tool magazine to the work spindle of the program-controlled milling machine by means of a tool changer. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool shank is made of one piece and is detachably connected to the tool holder for access to the chamber. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool shank comprises:
 an inner shank part configured to be connected in the tool holder; and 
 an outer shank part containing the chamber, the polishing head being attached at the outer end of the outer shank part; 
 wherein the two shank parts are detachably connected to one another. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing head comprises at least partially of an elastomer and a fiber-composite material. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing head is comprised at least partially of an elastomer and a fiber-composite material. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the polishing head comprises a core element made of fiber-reinforced elastomer which is coated with at least one layer of an insulating fiber material and of a high-strength synthetic fabric. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the polishing head comprises a core element made of fiber-reinforced elastomer which is coated with at least one layer of an insulating fiber material and of a high-strength synthetic fabric. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the source of pressure introduced into the chamber is a cooling lubricant of the machine tool. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a control valve in the bore leading to the polishing head. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the bore extending in the tool shank ends in a funnel-shaped pressure chamber from where several said defined passages extend through the polishing head to the outer side thereof. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said displaceable piston is located in said cartridge. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing head comprises a core element made of fiber-reinforced elastomer coated with one or more layers of an insulating fiber material and high-strength synthetic fabric. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure agent fed into the chamber is the liquid cooling lubricant or compressed air of the machine tool. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for polishing workpiece surfaces, the apparatus being removably mountable in a tool holder of a program-controlled machine tool having a work spindle to which the tool holder is connected, the machine tool having a source of pressure at the tool holder, the apparatus comprising:
 a polishing tool engageable with the tool holder, said polishing tool being elongated and having an axis and formed with a shank having a proximal end configured to removeably engage the tool holder and ending in a distal end to which distal end a polishing head is fixedly mounted, the polishing head being formed with defined passages through which polishing agent can flow out the polishing head; 
 a chamber in said tool shank having a proximal end connectable to the source of pressure when said polishing tool is mounted to the tool holder, said chamber having a bore through which polishing agent can flow from a distal end of said chamber toward said polishing head; and 
 a displaceable piston in said chamber, said piston being located between the distal end of said chamber and the source of pressure connected to the proximal end of said polishing tool, the polishing agent, when present in said chamber, being between said piston and said bore in the distal end of said chamber, pressure from the machine tool being selectively applied to said piston to controllably move said piston axially toward said polishing head to force the polishing agent out of said chamber toward said polishing head, the source of pressure introduced into the chamber is a cooling lubricant of the machine tool. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the polishing head comprises a core element made of fiber-reinforced elastomer coated with one or more layers of an insulating fiber material and high-strength synthetic fabric. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for polishing workpiece surfaces, the apparatus being removably mountable in a tool holder of a program-controlled machine tool having a work spindle to which the tool holder is connected, the machine tool having a source of pressure at the tool holder, the apparatus comprising:
 a polishing tool engageable with the tool holder, said polishing tool being elongated and having an axis and formed with a shank having a proximal end configured to removeably engage the tool holder and ending in a distal end to which distal end a polishing head is fixedly mounted, the polishing head being formed with defined passages through which polishing agent can flow out the polishing head; 
 a chamber in said tool shank having a proximal end connectable to the source of pressure when said polishing tool is mounted to the tool holder, said chamber having a bore through which polishing agent can flow front a distal end of said chamber toward said polishing head; 
 a displaceable piston in said chamber, said piston being located between the distal end of said chamber and the source of pressure connected to the proximal end of said polishing tool, the polishing agent, when present in said chamber, being between said piston and said bore in the distal end of said chamber, pressure front the machine tool being selectively applied to said piston to controllably move said piston axially toward said polishing head to force the polishing agent out of said chamber toward said polishing head; and 
 an exchangeable cartridge in said chamber, said displaceable piston being located in said cartridge. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the polishing head comprises a core element made of fiber-reinforced elastomer coated with one or more layers of an insulating fiber material and high-strength synthetic fabric.